From a Soldier in Iraq

Tom got this email:

Sir,

Last night, I attended an OPD for the Officers in my unit - the 316th ESC - on Camp Anaconda in Balad, Iraq. It was basically a 20 minute video (from 2005, I believe) of your philosophy on how we are to wage war and peace in this postmodern bog that, as a Reservist, I reluctantly call home. I have been waiting for someone to articulate the ideas you presented for years. You helped me place parameters on the chaos of my own thoughts and gave me hope that there may be positive change on the horizon for us all someday. In short, I'm not the 19-year-old, single, slightly pissed off guy. I'm the 35-year-old, graduate degree, Ordnance Officer working in the Civil Logistics Augmentation Program guy. So, how can someone like me actually help implement this transformation? How can we take these ideas and change the world? Maybe you stated that in your brief and it got cut off before you addressed it, but I feel kind of like a guy who spent too much time in the strip club - saw the dream but went home empty handed and left to my own devious fruitless devices.

V/R,

[name withheld]

Tom replied:

First just try the blog and/or books for more. My site has tons of columns and articles. I've written about many paths (like Petraeus and Mattis in Esq two years ago). Also check out the Development-in-a-Box™ work we're doing in Iraq (Kurds) White paper on my front page plus CEO Steve's site.

Once you get read in some, happy to proceed in further dialogue.

Comments

[Dick H.]

There are three guys who give me hope. Tom, of course, Fallon, and now the young 35 year old Reservist in Iraq. Adding behavior to this kind of knowledge and discussion WILL "change the world." Now if we could only get some leadership in Washington to do that.

[mike in VA]

SII, I can feel you - my "first time" was 2004, about 1AM on Labor Day weekend Saturday, when I tuned in to C-Span after 12 hour shift at local drugs detox unit. WOW, there's TPMB giving about a 2 hour PP to NWC crew on PNM. Changed me, for sure. Welcome, you're in for a great ride!

[VoteWithTroops]

Patriot in Iraq, thank you for your service!

You still need to buy and read Barnett's books for all the profound details but videos of his briefings are on the Internet, found with a Google, YouTube or CSPAN search for "Thomas PM Barnett video". The briefing videos are great but the books are even better.

Meet Barnett's in-depth take on reality with blindness and confusion and come away from his work with vision, understanding and optimism about A Future Worth Creating! Thank you again, Ordnance Officer and Dr. Barnett, for your service!

VoteWithTroops